Invalid walker and ambulatory aid



Jan. 12, 1965 J. P. CLEARMAN ETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1962INVENTOR. JERQME. P CLEARMAN, &

Erzuc: C.\NEBSTE.R

Jan. 12, 1965 J. P. CLEARMAN ETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID Filed July 9, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INV NTOR. J'ERQME P CLEAZMAN,

Blzucs C.YWEE $TEIZ B flung A ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1965 .1. P. CLEARMANETAL 3,165,314

INVALID WALKER AND AMBULATORY AID 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 9, 1962INVENTORS JERQME CLEA2MAN BRUCE C'- WEE $TER BY M J-Zg ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 'Ofilice assists i atented Jan. 12, 1955 3,165,314 INVALIDWALKER AND AMEULATGL'QY All? Jerome I. learrnan, 33 E. Lake Road,Honeoye, N312,

and Bruce (I. Webster, 2-69 Miilard Ave, North Tari ytown, NJY.

Fiied duty 9, 1962, No. 2 398383 2 Claims. (Qt. 272--7u.3)

This invention relates to an invalid walker, and more particularly to adevice for permitting an individual who is incapable of supporting hisor her own weight to raise himself or herself to a standing position andthe present invention is adapted to be used for aiding such person inlearning to walk.

The primary object of this invention it to provide an invalid walker foruse by people who have diseases or conditions which cause disabilitysuch as disorders of the nervous system, disorders of the muscle,infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, congenital anomalies, where bywith the present invention invalids will be able to move fromplace toplace as desired or required and wherein the present invention will beespecially useful in helping such persons to walk or learn to walk.

A further object is to provide such an invalid walker and ambulatory aidwhich permits an individual incapable of lifting and/or supporting hisor her own weight to raise himself or herself to a standing position andthus learn to walk, and wherein the present invention is constructed sothat it will give the afiiicted operator maximum body support through afitted chest piece which supports him or her in the chest and shoulderareas, so that the operator will be offered maximum support overextended periods of time while using the walker with a minimum of bodyfatigue, and wherein while the operators body is supported by the chestpiece, his or her hands are free to operate the controls or to performhousehold or job tasks or duties, and wherein the present invention hasits own self-contained power source, and wherein minimum effort on thepart of the operator is required for raising, lowering or propellinghimself.

Still another object is to provide such an invalid walker that iseconomical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is ruggedin structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claims, together with theaccompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the invalid Walker andambulatory aid of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1. I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring diagram andhydraulic mechanism.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1%) indicates theinvalid walker and ambulatory aid of the present invention which isshown to comprise a horizontally disposed base 11 which includes a mainbody portion 12 that has integral angularly arranged side portions 13,

and the rear sections or ends of the side portions 13 are bifurcated asat 14, FIG. 3.

Side wheels 15 are journaled in the bifurcated portions 14 as at 16.

As shown in the drawings there is provided a rear caster assembly whichis indicated generally by the numeral "17, and the rear caster assembly17 includes a fitting or support member 18 which is connected to themain body portion 12 at the rear thereof by means of a pin or securingelement 19, FIG. 2. The numeral 21 indicates a rear wheel which isconnected to the member 18 by means of an axle or pin 2%, and the wheel'21 is adapted to have a rubber tire 22 thereon, FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 2 for example, there is also provided a-front casterassembly which is indicated generally by the numeral 23, and the frontcaster assembly 23 innumeral 26 indicates a wheel which is journaled inthe plate 24 as at 27, and the wheel 26 is adapted to have a rubber tire28 thereon. FIG. 1 shows the relative position of the Wheels includingthe front wheel 26.

There is further provided a hollow housing which is indicated generallyby the numeral 2%, and the housing 29 provides or defines a cowling fora purpose to be later described. The numerals 3d and 31 indicate rearand front hydraulic lifts, and as shown in the drawings the lift 3%includes a lower stationary cylinder 32, a vertically disposed piston 33which is telescopically or adjustably mounted in the cylinder 32, andthere is provided an extension 34 which is adjustably or telescopicallyconnected to the piston 33. The upper end of the extension 34 ishinge'dly connected as at 35 to a chest piece 36, FIG. 2, and the chestpiece 36 has a yieldable pad 37 thereon which is adapted to be coveredwith a suitable covering 33. The chest piece 36 includes a main portion3% as well as an upstanding flange or side portions 46, FIG. 1, andportions of the flanges 46 may be recessed or cut away as at 41. In FIG.2 in broken lines the numeral 42 indicates an invalid or person usingthe walker of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, a guide pin 43 extends through the upper portion ofthe cylinder 32 and engages an elongated groove 44 in the piston 33, andthere is also provided a guidepin 45 which extends through the upper endof the piston 33 and the pin 45 is adapted to engage an elongated groove46 in the extension 34, and these interengaging pins and grooves providea means for maintaining the parts in their proper aligned postion as'thelift is actuated.

The front lift 31 includes a lower cylinder 47 which is hingedly orpivotally connected to the base 11- as at 48, and there is furtherprovided an adjustable piston 49 Which is adapted to telescope in thecylinder 47, and an extension 5% is adjustably ortelescopicallyconnected to the piston 49. The numeral 51 indicates apivotal connection between the upper end of the extension 59 and thechest piece 36. As shown in FIG. 2, a guide pin 52 extends throughtheupper end of the cylinder 47 for engaging an elongated groove 53 in thepiston 49, and there is also provided a guide pin 54 which extends intothe upper end of the piston 49 for engaging an elongated groove 55 inthe extension 50, and these inter-engaging grooves and guide pins servethe same purpose as the previously described grooves and guide pins forthe lift 36 that is they serve to maintain the parts in their properaligned position as they are adjusted up or down.

The numeral 5% designates handle bars which have portions 57 pivotallyconnected to the housing 29, and the numeral 58 indicates a cross piecewhich is suitably affixed to the handle bars 55. Manually operable brakelocks 59 are operatively connected to the ends of the cross piece 5%,and there is further provided manually operable brake handles d whichare connected to the cross piece 53. Right and left selector switches 61are justable, and the connector unit 62 is shown to comprise a bar 63which has its upper end hingedly connected to the chest piece 36 as at64. The numeral 65 indicates a ,fltting which is suitably aflixed to thecross piece 58, and

a rod 66 is affixed to the fitting 65, the rod 66 being adjustablyconnected to the bar 63. The numeral 67 indicates a lower taperedthreaded portion on the bar 63, and portions of the lower end of the bar63 may be split or slotted as at 68, and the numeral 69 indicates amanually operable roughened or knurled locking coupling or sleeve whichis adapted to be threaded on the threaded portion 67 of the bar 63.

The numeral 70'indicates a suitable battery which is adapted to bearranged within the housing 29 above the base 11, and a recharging unit71 of conventional coni struction is adapted to be used for selectivelyrecharging f time, and the rewinding unit 73 n1ay be suitably supportedby brackets or braces 75.

Also arranged within the hollow housing 29 is an electric motor'76 whichis adapted to be electrically connected to the battery 70, and the motor76 serves to operate or drive a pump 77, and the pump 77 is adapted tobe used for pumping hydraulic fluid to or from the lifts and to and froma hydraulic reservoir tank 73, and the reservoir 78 is adapted to hold asuitable quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, as for example as shown inFIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 7, a suitable on and off and reversing switch 79 isadapted to be electrically connected in the circuit, and the numeral 80indicates a relief valve which is adapted to be used as a safety valvefor use in the event the hydraulic pressure becomes excessive. Thenumerals 81 indicate solenoids in the electrical circuit, and thesolenoids 81 serve to selectively actuate valves 82 which control theflow of hydraulic fluid to the lifts.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided aninvalid walker or ambulatory aid, and in use with the parts arranged asshown in the drawings, an invalid such as the invalid indicated in'broken lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 by-the numeral 42 is adapted to bearranged so that the chest piece 36 supports or engages the chest of theinvalid 42, and the hands of the invalid are adapted to grip or engagethe ends of the member or cross piece 58. Thus, this arrangement servesto insure that the major portion of the invalids weight will besupported by the chest piece so that the legs of the invalid can bemoved in the usual manner inorder to move the device along from place toplace as desired or required.

The chest piece 36 includes the side flanges 40 which helps insure thatthe invalid will not inadvertently or accidentally slip off of the chestpiece, and the padding 37 which is adapted to be made of a suitablemateral such as foam rubber or the like so as to insure that the invalidcan be comfortably and safely and efiiciently supported. The padding 37is adapted to be covered over with a suitable cover member such as thecover member 38 which can be made of a suitable fabric or the like.

There is also provided a means for adjusting the chest piece 36, and themeans for adjusting the chest piece 36 consists of the front and rearlifts 31 and 30 which are adapted to be hydraulically actuated aspreviously described. Thus, a pair of switches 61 are adapted to besuitably mounted on the cross piece 58, and these switches 61 areelectrically connected to the solenoids 81, and the pair of solenoids 81are provided for selectively moving or actuating the valves 82 whichserve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through conduits such as,the conduits or lines 83. Thus, with the main on and off switch 79 in onposition, the motor 76 will be energized or actuated and the motor 76 isadapted to receivepower from the battery 76, and with the motor 76actuated, the pump '77 will be actuated so as to pump hydraulic fluidfrom the reservoir 78 through aconduit such as the conduit 84, and byactuating both switches 61, both solenoids 81 will be actuated tothereby open both valves 82 so as to permit hydraulic fluid to flowthrough the lines or conduits 83 in order to actuate both lifts 30and'31. Thus, if desired both lifts 3t) and 31 can besimultaneouslyactuated in order to raise or adjust, the chest piece 36 to the desiredlocation or. position. Or, if desired, only one of the lifts 36 or 31can be actuated at a particular time and this is accomplished bymanually actuating only one of the switches 61to thereby maintain one ofthe valves 82 open and one closed and this will permit hydraulic fluidto thereby be supplied to either of the lifts 313 or 31 as desired orrequired. This arrangement permits the chest piece 36'to be adjusted ormoved to a plurality of different positions.

The lifts such as the lift 30' includes. the stationary lower cylinder32 as well as the hollow piston 33 and the extension 34. Thus, bysupplying hydraulic. fluid to the cylinder 32, the piston 33 will becaused to move upwardly, and as additional hydraulic fluid is suppliedto the lift 30, the extension 34 will be raised. The pin 45 engages thegroove 46 toinsure that the extension 34 will be maintained'in itsproper aligned position as it moves up or down, and similarly thecoacting pin 43 andgroove 44 serve to insure that the piston 33 andcylinder 32 will remain in their proper aligned position. v

Similarly the lift 31 includes the lower cylinder 47 which has thehollow piston 49 adjustably connected thereto so that as hydraulic fluidis supplied to the cylinder 47, the piston 49 will be raised, and asadditional hydraulic fluid is supplied to the cylinder 47, thishydraulic fluid will be able to flow through the hollow piston 49 andthen raise or lift the extension 50.. The upper end of the extension 56is pivotally connected as at 51 to the chest piece 36, and thelower endof the cylinder 47 is pivotally connected as at 48 to the basell.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

' As shown in FIG. 1, the base 11 includes the main body portion 12 aswell as the side portions 13, and this construction together with theconstruction'of the other parts including the housing 29 serves toinsurethat the invalids legs or feet can be comfortably and properlypositioned in'order to engage the ground or floor so that the device ofthe presentinvention can be properly used.

The rear caster 17 is arranged and constructed so that it Wlll coactwith the other wheels such as the side wheels 15, and the front casterassembly 23 whereby the device can be readily moved from place to placeas desired, and this construction serves to insure that the devicewillbe properly stabilized during use thereof. Also, the construction andprovision of the front and rear. caster as- 1 sembly serves to insurethat the device can be easily turned or guided since these casterspermit or facilitate turning movement thereof.

The brake handles 60are adapted to be manually ac- .tuated in order toactuate suitable brakes which are electric outlet or the like wherebythe battery 70 may be Z3 recharged for subsequent use in energizing ordriving the motor '76 which operates the pump 77. After the battery '70has been recharged by means of the recharging unit 7 1.

which is of conventional construction, tension on the line or cord 72can be released whereby the rewindunit 73 will serve to rewind orretract the cord 72 to a position such as that shown in FIG. 2.

The bars 56 have their portions 57 pivotally connected to the housing29, and with the connector unit 62 connected as at 64 to the chest piece36 and also connected as at as to the cross piece 58, it will be seenthat the cross piece 58 will move or be adjusted to its properpositionas the chest piece 36 is adjusted or regulated.

As shown in FIG. 5, the connector unit 62 is adjustable, and this isaccomplished by loosening the sleeve 69 whereby the relative positionbetween the members 66 and 63 can be changed and then the sleeve 69 canbe tightened in order to maintain these parts stationary or immobile intheir adjusted position.

The motor 76 may be of the reversible type so that by properlypositioning or actuating the switch 7? the motor 76 can be used to drivethe pump 77 in a forward or reverse direction in order to control thefiow of fluid from the reservoir 78 to either or both of the lifts anand 31, or else this arrangement can be used for returning or pumpingthe hydraulic fluid back from the lifts to the reservoir or tank 78.

With further reference to the front caster 23, it will be seen that theplate 24 which has the wheel 26 journaled therein, is rotatablysupported by the ball bearings 25, and this construction permits theplate 24 to swivel so that turning or guiding movement of the walker ofthe present invention can be readily accomplished or brought about.

The flanges 4d are adapted to be recessed or cut away as at 41 so as toprovide suficient clearance for the shoulders or arms of the invalid inorder to insure that the device can be conveniently and properly used.

As shown in FIG. 2 the parts can be arranged in different positions, andfor example the parts such as the chest piece can be arranged in thesolid line position of FIG. 2 or else such parts can be arranged in thebroken line position of FIG. 2. Thus, by initially arranging the partsin a position such as that shown in broken lines in FIG. 2,

the invalid can readily move or be moved so that the invalids chestengages the piece 36 when the piece 36 1S 7 in the lower position, andthen switches such as the switches 61 can be manually actuated in orderto actuate the lifts 3d and 31 whereby the chest piece as can be movedto a raised position as, for example, to a position such as that shownin solid lines in FIG. 2 whereby the legs and feet of the invalid canconveniently be used for propelling the device from place to place asdesired, and when the device is being used, the chest piece as serves tosupport the major portion of the invalid so that walking can beaccomplished with maximum ease or facility.

It will therefore be seen that according to the present invention therehas been provided a new ambulatory aid to be used by invalids ordisabled persons who may have had various types of diseases or disorderssuch as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, disorders of themuscles such as myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophy, infectiousdiseases such as polio, metabolic disorders such as rickets orosteoporofis, or congenital anomalies such as spinabifida. Theambulatory aid of the present invention is a device which permits anindividual incapable of supporting his or her own weight to raisehimself or herself to a standing position and learn to walk.

In use, the parts may be initially arranged in the position such as thatshown in broken lines in FIG. 2, and with the invalid or patient sittingin a chair, the patient can lean forward until his chest engages thepiece 36, and then with the hands in position on the ends of the crosspiece or bar 58, either or both of the switches 61 can be actuated bythe fingers and this will cause either or both of the lifts 6 3t and 31to be actuated so as to raise the chest piece 36 to the desired heightso that the invalid willbe automatically raised to a standing. positionwhereby such persons can learn to walk with the present invention.

The chest support or chest piece as is padded as at 37, and the support36 is adapted to be formed or shaped as shown in the drawings so thatthe patients body will be properly supported. The switches such as theswitches 61 may be of a suitable construction and may be three-wayswitches. The numerals 60 and 59 indicate manual controls for the brakesfor the wheels 15. The plug '74 is adapted to be connected to a suitablesource of electrical energy so that the recharging unit 71 can be usedto recharge the battery 7t). The aluminum cowl 2 9 is adapted to encloseor cover various parts of the hydraulic and electrical mechanisms orunits, and the base 11 is adapted to be made of aluminum. The outsidewheels 15 have suitable brakes associated therewith, and in FIG. 2 thenumeral'Zd indicates a pivot disk caster plate which forms part of thecaster assembly 23.

Primarily the walker of the present invention permits an afflictedindividual who is incapable of supporting his own weight to raisehimself to a standing position and walk. An important feature or aspectof the present invention, insofar as its difference between existingambulatory aids, is its ability to permit the aiilicted user to get intothe device, raise himself and walk entirely without the assistance of aphysical therapist or other person, and the walker of the presentinvention is constructed to aid individuals disabled by any of theVarious diseases or disorders of the nervous system, muscles, orinfectious dis eases, metabolic disorders or congenital anomalies.

The walker includes the cast aluminum base or frame which has thealuminum Wheels 15 connected thereto, and such wheels are adapted to beprovided with rubber tires, and these outside wheels can be braked bythe use of hand controls as which are located in a convenient position.The front and rear wheels are casters which permit the affiictedindividual to turn the walker in any direction. Arranged above the base11 are hydraulic and electrical components which actuate the hydrauliclifts, and this complete mechanism is covered with the aluminum cowling29. The lifts are fastened to both the chest attachment plate 36 and thebase 11. By adjusting the unit 67;, the handle member or cross piece 5?can be ad justed to fit individual requirements. By regulating the twohydraulic lifts either simultaneously or individually, the afflictedindividual can raise himself from a sitting to a standing position,lower himself, or he can raise himself so that he assumes any desiredposition in between. Because of the construction of the walker, it canbe easily manipulated over door sills, carpets and the like, and it alsocan be moved partially under beds, chairs, toilets and the like tofacilitate mounting the walker. Its width ermits the user to navigatethrough narrow doorways. The present invention will be especiallyvaluable in the medical field since it provides not only a trainingdevice for patients who would otherwise be confined to a bed or wheelchair, but it also can be used in the home or on the job to extend theabilities of the handicapped.

As shown in FIG. 4, the point at which the wheel 21 contacts the flooris not directly under the axis of rotation of the caster in order forthe rear caster to track properly. Thus, the axle 2d of the wheel 21isarranged oif center with respect to the pin 19 that is located in theframe portion 12 of the walker and the wheel 21 can rotate about an axisextending through thepin 19.

The front lift 31 is arranged so that it is free to swing forward andbackward on its pivot pin 48 as the angle of the chest piece 36 changes.The valves 32 are adapted to be placed down in the base of the walker,one on either side of the point where the front lift is connected to thebase.

Since the front lift must raise to a greater height than the rear, thelowest stage of the front lift must be longer than that of the rearlift, and as shown in the drawings lift can move in an are forward andbackward as the chest piece changes its'angle relative to thehorizontal.

The walker of the present invention is thus a new ambulatory aid ordevice which enables an individual in- I capable of lifting and/orsupporting his own weight to raise himself to a standing position andlearn to walk, and the present invention is designed to give theafiiicted operator maximum body support through a fitted chest piecewhich supports him in the chest and shoulder areas, and this method thusoffers the operator maximum support over extended periods of time whilehe is using the walker with a minimum amount of body fatigue. Inaddition while the operators body is supported by the chest piece, hishands are free to operate the controls or to perform household or jobtasks. Some of the unique features of the present invention are that ithas its own selfcontained power source,;and that it requires minimumeffort on the part of the operator to raise, lower or propel himself.

The coveringBS maybe of a suitable material such as suede or the like.The member 36 is adapted to be suitably recessed or slotted so as toprovide clearance for the patients arms, and the piece 36 is alsosuitably curved or formed so that it will have the proper contour forthe vice will enable the operator to keep the walker in a stationaryposition while he mounts the ambulatory device, and to stop the walkerin a fixed position during any stage of operation. With furtherreference to the brake mechanism, when the operator pulls either one ofthe brake handles 66, a suitable cable is pulled and plate members whichare contiguous to the wheels will be actuated by movement of the cableso that such plate members will move into contacting engagement withthewheels 15 to slow the rotary motion of the outside wheels 15,.andwhen the brake handles 68 are released, suitable spring members areadapted to release the brakes so as to permit the wheels 15 to turn. Thelocking members 59' can .be used as an emergency brake lock so as tohold the; wheels 15 in a fixed position and keep the walker in astationary position, and either one or both brake handles can lock thebrakes.

On the handle grips or members 58 are located two three-Way switches 61which control the raising and lowering of the chest piece that supportsthe operator. The motor '76 which drives the pump '77 is reversible. Oneof these switches can be used to operate the motor 76 if desired, anddetermines whether the motor is to be off, pumping fluid into the liftsor drawing fluid out of the lifts and returning it to the reservoir, andthis switch can also be used to open the solenoid valves which hold thehydraulic system in equilibrium and permit the fluid to flow Wheneverthe motor is activated, and the other switch can be used to determinewhether the front, rear or both lifts are to receive or be emptied offluid. Thus, it will be seen that if desired, through the simultaneousoperation of theswitches, the operator can raise both lifts together,lower both lifts together, raise the front lift,

lower the front lift, raise the rear lift alone, lower the rear liftalone or lock the entire system in equilibrium. The switch '79 may be adualcircuit three-way switch, and the switch 61 may be a three-waynormal on switch.

' Pins such as the pins and 43 function as stop pins to limit movementof the extensible parts of'the lift, and

similarly the pins 52 and 54 function as stop pins. As

shown in the drawings. the walker of the present invention includesfront and rear three-stage lifts.

The present invention permits an individual to raise himself toastanding position and learn to walk. The handle bars can. pivot at thepoint Where they'are joined to the cowling so as to permit them to swingin an arc upward and downward as the front'of the chest piece is raisedor lowered, and this keeps the hand grips andcontrols at a constantdistance from the shoulder of the operator at all times.

Suitable rubber hand grips are adapted to be arranged on the ends of themembers 58, and such rubber hand grips are indicated by the numerals 36in FIG. '1. The brake lock 59 may be pressfitted into theends of thehandle bar 58, and the numerals 66 indicate manually operable brakelevers.

The unit 62 isadjustable so that the distance from'the chest piece tothe handle bars can be regulated by loosening the locking collar 69 andthen adjusting the parts to the desiredposition and then tightening thecollar The slits 68 permit compression to take place so that 'with thelocking collar 69 provided with the threaded tapered interior, byproperly rotating'the collar 69, the

locking action can be readily accomplished.

The front caster 23 includes a wheel such as a 6-inch diameter wheel 26that. is mounted off center perpendicular to an 8-inch diameter disk orplate 24, and the wheel 26 is adapted to rotate freely in the disk 24.The 24 is suspended in the base or frame of the walker on a race of ballbearings 25 and also rotates freely within the frame.

As the axle of the wheel 26 is mountedbehind the center point of thedisk 24, a slight force in any direction other than that in which thewheel is rolling will cause the disk to rotate and piace the wheel in adirection coincidental to that of the force.

The rear caster 17 is of the cre'epertype, and the axle of this wheel ismounted at about 45 to'the horizontal so as to permit the use of alarger diameter Wheel than would normally be possible with limitedvertical height necessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of deh tails comingwithin the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actualpractice, if desired What is claimed is: V 1. In an invalid walker, abase includinga main body portion and angularly arranged side portions,said side portions having rcarwardly exposed bifurcated sections,

' side wheels journaled in said bifurcated sections, a rear casterincluding a fitting having a pin connected to said main body portion atthe rear end thereof, an axle connected to said fitting, a rear wheelconnected to said axle;

a front caster assembly comprising a horizontally disposed plate mountedin the front of said main body portion, bearing members contiguous tosaid plate, a front wheel journalcd in' said plate, a hollow housing onsaid 1 base providing a cowling; front and rear hydraulic liftsincluding cylinders having pistons adjustably connected thereto,extensions telescopically connected to said pistom, the lower end ofsaid front lift being hingedly connected to said base, a chest supportpiece hingedly con- .nected to the upper ends of said extensions, andsaid chest piece having a covered yieldable pad thereon, handle barspivotally connected to said housing,- a cross piece affixed to saidhandle bars, an adjustable connector unit including an upper barhingedly connected to said chest piece, a fitting on said cross pieceintermediate the ends thereof,v a rod having its lowerend affixed tosaid last -namedfitting and its upper end adjustably connected tojournaled in the side portions of said base, a rear caster assemblyconnected to said main body portion at the rear end thereof, a frontcaster assembly in the front of the main body portion, a hollow housingon said base providing a cowling, front and rear lifts mounted abovesaid base and having an adjustable chest support piece connected to theupper portions thereof, handle bars pivotally connected to said housing,a cross piece afiixed to said handle bars, an adjustable connector unitconnecting said chest piece to said cross piece, and power means in saidhousing for selectively actuating said lifts.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS R. PRINCE,Primary Examiner. RICHARD c. PlNKHAM, Examiner.

2. IN AN INVALID WALKER, A BASE INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION ANDANGULARLY ARRANGED SIDE PORTIONS, SIDE WHEELS JOURNALED IN THE SIDEPORTIONS OF SAID BASE, A REAR CASTER ASSEMBLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAINBODY PORTION AT THE REAR END THEREOF, A FRONT CASTER ASSEMBLY IN THEFRONT OF THE MAIN BODY PORTION, A HOLLOW HOUSING ON SAID BASE PROVIDINGA COWLING, FRONT AND REAR LIFTS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BASE AND HAVING ANADJUSTABLE CHEST SUPPORT PIECE CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PORTIONS THEREOF,HANDLE BARS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING, A CROSS PIECE AFFIXEDTO SAID HANDLE BARS, AN ADJUSTABLE CONNECTOR UNIT CONNECTING